Mallard, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology Similar to adult male Mallard Very different shape with shaggy crest and thin, serrated bill Bold white collar on neck White stripe on sides separates gray flanks from dark back. © Kim Taylor , March 2011 Similar Species The American Black Duck of eastern North America looks like a female Mallard but has a darker body, greenish-yellow bill, and a purplish “speculum” patch in the wings that does not have white borders. Identification is complicated by the frequent occurrence of hybrids between the two species. The Mottled Duck of the coastal Southeast also resembles a female Mallard, but is somewhat darker, with less black on the bill (just a small black spot at the base), and lacks the broad white borders to the speculum. Female Gadwalls have a slimmer bill with a thin orange line along the edge and often show a white patch on the folded wing. Northern Shovelers have a bill that is noticeably larger and wider than any other duck’s. Its body pattern is different from a Mallard’s, too: the belly and sides are chestnut, set off by a white breast and undertail.

Female Northern Shovelers, in addition to their very large bill, are paler overall, with lots of buffy and tan tones to the body. The green heads of Red-breasted Mergansers and Common Mergansers superficially resemble a male Mallard’s, but these birds’ shape and behavior are much different: mergansers are streamlined ducks with slender bills, and they dive instead of dabble. Mallard Ducks, Mallard Duck Pictures, Mallard Duck Facts - National Geographic Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man Please add a "relative" entry to your dictionary. The green head and yellow bill of the mallard duck is a familiar sight to many people living in the Northern hemisphere. In fact, the mallard is thought to be the most abundant and wide-ranging duck on Earth. Mallards prefer calm, shallow sanctuaries, but can be found in almost any body of freshwater across Asia, Europe, and North America. They’re also found in saltwater and brackish water and are commonly found in wetlands. The male, or drake, is the more distinctively colored of the mallards.

Its iconic green head sits atop a white neckband that sets off a chestnut-colored chest and gray body. Females are mottled drab brown in color, but sport iridescent purple-blue wing feathers that are visible as a patch on their sides. They grow to about 26 inches (65 centimeters) in length and can weigh up to 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms). Mallard groups can often be seen head dipping or completely upending in the water. They rarely dive though, spending their time near the surface and dabbling for invertebrates, fish, amphibians, and a variety of plants. They also graze on land, feeding on grains and plants. Mated pairs migrate to and breed in the northern parts of their range and build nests on the ground or in a protected cavity. They normally lay about a dozen eggs, and the incubation period lasts just under a month. Mallards are territorial during much of this period, but once incubation is well underway, males abandon the nest and join a flock of other males. Most mallard species are common and not considered threatened. However one threat to their populations includes hybridization with other ducks.

Confusing Domestic Ducks Confusing Domestic Ducks (and hybrids) Pictures taken with an Olympus D-450, D-40, or Sony Sureshot digital camera through a Swarovski HD80 or Swarovski AT80 spotting scope. All photos � Kevin and Jay McGowan, unless otherwise noted. By Kevin J. McGowan (First published in the Cayuga Bird Club Newsletter, February and March 2006) What is that strange looking duck? It doesn’t look familiar, and you can’t find it in your field guide. Waterfowl can be fun for beginning birders because they are relatively easy to watch, not flitting through the trees or into the bushes like little dicky birds. They have very distinctive plumages with large patches of color in bold patterns that make identification relatively easy. True, the female dabblers all look pretty much alike, but the males are distinctive. So what do you do when you run up against something you can’t identify and can’t find in the books? How can you figure out what it is? Duck identification problems often fall into one of only a few categories. In this article I will attempt to explain some of them and give common examples of each.

It’s a domestic duck. This is probably the most common answer to most beginning birder’s duck problems. Domestic duck breeds are not illustrated in most field guides, and the older guides did not mention this problem at all. When people go out looking for wild birds they seem to forget that domestic breeds exist. First rule of thumb: If your weird duck is found at a park, walking around on the grass or coming near people, it is probably a domestic duck. But, these domestic monsters do get mixed up in flocks of wild birds, too, so how do you spot them? Second rule of thumb: If your duck has large patches of white where you didn’t expect it, think domestic duck. People seem to love to breed white or partially white domestic animals, presumably because such mutations don’t do well in the wild and consequently are rare. Such mutations do turn up in the wild, though, and we’ll discuss them later, but for now, if you see big patches of white, think domestic duck. Only two species of ducks have been domesticated: the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and the Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata).

Let’s deal with the Muscovy Duck first, as it’s pretty easy to tell. The most obvious character of a muscovy is the red facial skin. If your duck has a red face, it’s probably a Muscovy Duck. This red skin can be quite bumpy, exaggerated, and frankly, gross, with a knob on top of the bill and lumps all over. If you see that, it’s a slam dunk Muscovy Duck. The wild type plumage of muscovy is all black, glossy greenish on the back, and with large white wing patches. But, because of our fondness for white, domestic muscovies can be pure white, all black, or any degree of pied black-and-white. Mallard breeds can be somewhat confusing. They can be larger than normal or much smaller, darker or lighter, all white or all black. Watch for the little curled feathers on the back of the male, above the tail. Only the Mallard and its domestic descendants have those. (Well, the Hawaiian Duck does too, but the chances of seeing one of those around here is about zero.) Again, lots of white is often involved, including all-white breeds like the popular Pekin Duck.

Another common form is the bibbed version. It has a sort of normal body and head plumage, and a white chest. Other forms and crosses can have spots of white just about anywhere. Usually these white spots are not symmetrical across both sides, and that asymmetry should tip you off to think domestic influence. This bibbed domestic Mallard was in Union Springs, Cayuga Co., NY, 19 February 2006. The passion for weird plumage in domestic ducks does not stop with white, but can go the other way too. Some breeds are darker than normal Mallard plumage. One popular dark breed is known as the “Cayuga Duck,” and it may have actually originated in our area (central New York) in the 19th century. This duck is dark all over and rather iridescent, like its shiny speculum feathers got spread over the entire bird. Very handsome, indeed. Other color variations include faded and pale versions of normal (“apricot,” “buff,” or “fawn”), somewhat darker and without the white neck ring (“dusky”), or faded silvery (“blue”).

There are lots of other weirdnesses too, including topknots and strange, barbless feathers, but I’d rather not go into them. Just be aware that very odd things exist in the world of domestic poultry, and oddity should make you consider domestic origin. Body size can often be a clue toward domesticity. The first breeds of domestic Mallard were bred for food, and consequently for large body size. A domestic duck can be twice the size of a wild Mallard. Even if they’re not obviously larger, they tend to be bulkier and more dumpy looking, especially in the belly. But, domestics can be smaller than normal too. Indian runner ducks are long and lean. These are very odd, tall, skinny ducks that look like bowling pins. They are great egg producers but have totally tubular bodies. The pygmies of the domestic duck world are the “Call” ducks. Call ducks are tiny, teal-sized things that have smaller bills and more rounded heads than normal ducks. That means they’re cuter. They were originally bred as live decoys to attract or “call” wild ducks in to be shot, and are still sometimes known as decoy ducks.

They can have normal Mallard plumage, white, faded, or dark. Males will still have the curled tail feathers and the plumage will generally fit in the same basic categories as the other Mallard types. The recent call duck hanging out at Union Springs, NY is a male (with some problems), and can be recognized by his cute look, curled tail feathers, “dusky” coloring, and the fact that he’s in love with a female Mallard. This dusky call duck was in Union Springs, Cayuga Co., NY, 27 December 2005. This dusky call duck was in Union Springs, Cayuga Co., NY, 19 February 2006. It’s an exotic duck. Ducks are good fliers, and some fly long distances in migration. That means sometimes we get European or Asian ducks turning up in North America. Such an occurrence is pretty rare, though, and the few species that do this are generally illustrated in the field guides. More frequently than that, we find escaped “pet” ducks. Keeping ornamental waterfowl is very popular. It can be surprising how many people have captive ducks and geese.

Sometimes these ducks get loose, and sometimes their owners get rid of them by turning them out on a pond or lake. The best local examples of this phenomenon are the Mandarin Duck pair that was at Myers Point, Lansing, NY briefly in January 2003, and the Red-crested Pochards (and hybrid) that put in an appearance there many years ago. Although owners of domestic ducks are supposed to put bands on their birds and clip off the hind claw on each foot, that doesn’t seem to happen all that often, and birds are out there without these marks of captivity. One mark that seems to show up more frequently is pinioning, where the tip of one wing is surgically removed to keep the bird from flying. When pinioned ducks flap, you can see the half-a-wing pretty clearly (as was the case with the aforementioned pochards). A number of guides to all of the ducks of the world are available, so a quick browse through one of them might find your odd duck. If not, try one of the other possibilities. This pair of Mandarin Ducks was seen in the marina at Myers Point, Tompkins Co., NY, 16 January 2003. It’s a hybrid duck.

Male ducks provide no parental care, and female ducks do not have to feed their young, just lead them around. (Which is why male ducks can get away with not helping.) This situation can lead to careless sex and consequently hybridization. Although hybrid ducks are not that common overall, they do occur on a regular basis. The most common in central New York are Mallard X American Black Duck hybrids. (It turns out that most females of the Mallard close relatives find a green head really sexy, and they will hook up with Mallard males whenever they are available. Such propensities create some conservation concern when domestic Mallards are introduced into the range of some other species, such as American Black Duck or Mottled Duck.) These two different Mallard X American Black Duck hybrids were with Mallards at Stewart Park, Ithaca, NY, 24 March 2001. Note that one has the curly upper tail coverts like a Mallard and the other one does not. This Mallard X American Black Duck hybrid (in the rear) was with American Black Ducks at Point Lookout, Nassau Co., NY, 3 March 2001.

Sometimes the hybrid pairs are between species that are not closely related, such as Hooded Merganser X Common Goldeneye. In captivity where ducks from all over are housed together, anything can happen. The clues for finding a hybrid are not so clear cut. The easiest way to spot them is when they have characters intermediate between the parental species. Look for a duck that looks familiar, but just doesn’t look quite right. A black duck X Mallard male will often have the mostly dull plumage of the black duck and some green on the head. It may or may not have the curled feathers over the tail, and the speculum can be blue like a Mallard or more purple like the black duck. Small green patches on the head can be a good sign of some Mallard parentage. In general, watch for symmetrical abnormalities, patches of color or lack of color. Amongst the dabbling ducks certain patterns seem to occur in hybrids, even if they are not present in the parents. Pale cheeks and a Baikal Teal face pattern can result from a number of different pairings. Note its presence, if faint, in the second Mallard X black duck pictured above.

A recent hybrid duck in Union Springs, NY resembles a duck illustrated by Audubon and described as “Brewer’s Duck.” It has a dark cap with some greenish sheen, a pale to tan cheek, a dark neck ring, a lighter thin neck ring, a dark chest, dark sides, black rear end with a faint white stripe in front of it, and a whitish tail. Audubon thought that his bird might be a cross between a Mallard and a Gadwall. The Union Springs Brewer’s Duck is very similar. The green on the head, white tail, black rear end, and pale neck ring are good Mallard characters. The gray sides, dark rear end, and intricately patterned chest suggest Gadwall. Where the face patch comes from is anybody’s guess, and nothing has a black-and-tan bill like this bird. But does this bird have Mallard in it? It looks very similar to a specimen in Gillham and Gillham (1996, Hybrid Ducks) that is labeled as Gadwall X Northern Pintail. It’s hard to know for sure, and Gillham and Gillhan (1996) give several known combinations that look like this duck.

This is Audubon's painting of "Bemaculated Duck" or "Brewer's Duck." It has been accepted as a Mallard X Gadwall hybrid. It’s in eclipse plumage or transitioning out. Dabbling ducks are unusual in that the males have a very briefly held drab plumage in the summer, known as an “eclipse” plumage. It looks very female-like, but usually a few characters are different. The transition back to the classy nuptial plumage can take a while, and the plumage can be mixed. Transitional Mallards can look like hybrids with American Black Ducks. Transitional Northern Shovelers can show a Blue-winged Teal-like white crescent on the face. Green-winged Teal often show a mix of patterned female-like and clean gray male feathers. The birds look weird and might be mistaken for hybrids, but if you know such things exist you should be less surprised to see such a mix of male and “female” characters. It’s a mutant duck. Weird things happen in nature. Albinism and other color abnormalities are rather common. Odd, often irregular white patches can be a sign of partial albinism.

It can be hard to tell sometimes if a duck is a mutant or has domestic duck genes. It is always good to look at the shape and size of any suspect duck and see if it looks like the other, more normally plumaged ducks around it. Third rule of thumb: If it looks the same as the others ducks around it in every way except color (even behavior), then it probably is a mutant. Note also that Mallards and Muscovy Ducks normally do not dive, so if your patched white duck is spending lots of time under water, it's a mutant. This female Redhead was in Union Springs, Cayuga Co., NY, 24 November 2000. Some mutations or odd plumages aren’t the result of albinism, but seem just to be rare variations. The white neck band on a male Gadwall or the white cheeks on a male American Wigeon are examples that you can find if you just look through enough individuals. This white-cheeked American Wigeon was in Union Springs, Cayuga Co., NY, 13 February 2006.

This normal American Wigeon was at Montezuma NWR, Seneca Co., NY, 29 October 2005. Domestic Waterfowl: Call Duck Standards - Call Duck Colours FEMALE Head and Neck :Golden brown, each feather with darker brown graining. This graining forms a darker band from the crown down the back of the neck. Eyes: Brown. Faint eye stripes i.e. a paler line above the eye, a dark line through the eye and a pale line in front of the eye. Bill: Dark orange with brown saddle. Plain brown throat. Back: Brown or chestnut with darker pencilling (chevrons). Breast and flanks: Brown or chestnut with dark brown pencilling on each feather. Underbody similar. Tail: Dull dark buff, irregularly marked with brown; darker tail feathers in the centre than the outer edges. MALE Head and Neck : Charcoal blue on the head and upper neck; a white collar almost encircling the neck. Eyes: Brown. Bill: Green, dark bean. Body feathers blue-grey shading to dark blue-grey at the rump. Rich claret with no white fringing; margin of claret clearly defined.

Flanks etc. Light grey with grey stippling. Tail: Darker blue-grey in the centre, paler outer feathers. Dark blue-grey undertail. Wings: Primaries smoke grey; secondaries (speculum) matt charcoal blue, tipped with white. Tertials blue-grey, bronze on the outer part. Coverts blue-grey, except for greater coverts which are tipped with whitish grey then dark grey. Scapulars smoke grey, darker at outer edge. Cream/white underwing. ] MALE Head and Neck : Pigeon blue (blue-grey) on the head and upper neck; a white collar almost encircling the neck. Eyes: Brown. Bill: Light green, dark bean. Back: Light grey feathers with darker edge, shading to blue-grey at the rump. Claret with no white fringing; margin of claret clearly defined. Flanks etc. Very light grey feathers with apricot-grey stippling. Tail: Light grey, central feathers darker than outer. Blue grey undertail. Wings: Primaries and coverts light pearl grey with apricot tinge; secondaries (speculum) darker pearl grey tipped with whitish grey.

Tertials grey, apricot tinge on outer part. Greater coverts tipped with whitish grey then darker grey. Scapulars grey, edged with pale brown. Cream/white underwing. Legs: Orange. Disqualifications Male: Absence of neck ring. Incomplete neck ring. Pied markings on the head and neck. Dark stippling on flanks and belly. Female: Any indication of eye stripes. Buff ground colour to the body heavily pencilled with brown. Major Faults Male: White under the bill. Claret breast and flank colour extending low on to the body, or lacking in white fringing. Blue bill. Female: Lack of cream or fawn ground colour to the head and upper neck. Lack of any graining on the head. Both: Lack of speculum. Ill-defined markings on greater coverts. Minor faults Light streaks in the undertail. Heavy dark graining on crown and neck. BLUE SILVER MALE Head and Neck : Charcoal blue on the head and upper neck. Distinct white collar completely encircling the neck. Lower neck coloured as for breast. Eyes: Brown. Bill: Green with dark bean. Back: Upper back: white feathers finely stippled with blue grey.

Lower down the back the stippling becomes heavier until solid charcoal blue on the rump. Breast: Claret with each feather fringed with white. Claret split by more white on the lower breast. Flanks etc. Light claret feathers along the upper flank, each feather edged with white. Lower flanks and underbody white. Tail: Paler outer feathers; central feathers darker, each feather having a blue-grey centre and paler off-white edging. Undertail dark blue-grey. Wings: Primaries off-white, marked with blue grey, more so on the outer edge and tip. Speculum charcoal blue with white band on the secondaries. Greater coverts grey with white rims. Tertials grey stipple with browner outer edge. Scapulars grey stipple; outer scapulars claret with white rims. Cream/white underwing. Legs and webs dull orange. BLUE SILVER FEMALE Head and Neck : Fawn to cream hood with charcoal blue graining on the crown. No eye stripes. Eyes: Brown. Bill: Light orange-brown with rich brown saddle. Dark Bean.

Back: White feathers with central grey streak; blue grey and fawn stippling; markings heaviest towards the rump. Breast and flanks: Fawn mottling on upper breast. Flanks and underbody mainly white. Tail: Feathers white with central blue grey streak and fawn and grey stippling. Wings: Primary feathers almost white, blue-grey stippling on the outer edges and tips. Speculum charcoal blue with white band on the secondaries. Greater coverts grey with white rims. Lightly mottled smaller coverts. Marginal coverts white. Cream/white underwing. Legs: Orange. Disqualifications Male: Absence of neck ring. Incomplete neck ring. Pied markings on the head and neck. Dark stippling on flanks and belly. Female: Any indication of eye stripes. Buff ground colour to the body heavily pencilled with brown Both: Clear white primaries. Major Faults Male: White under the bill. Claret breast and flank colour extending low on to the body, or lacking in white fringing. Blue bill. Female: Lack of cream or fawn ground colour to the head and upper neck. Lack of any graining on the head. Both: Lack of speculum.

Ill-defined markings on greater coverts. APRICOT SILVER MALE Head and Neck : Pigeon blue (blue-grey) on the head and upper neck. Distinct white collar completely encircling the neck. Lower neck coloured as for breast. Eyes: Brown. Bill: Green with dark bean. Back: Upper back: white feathers finely stippled with light blue grey. Lower down the back the stippling becomes heavier until solid pigeon blue on the rump. Breast: Claret with each feather fringed with white. Claret split by more white on the lower breast. Flanks etc. Light claret feathers along the upper flank, each feather edged with white. Lower flanks and underbody white. Tail: Paler outer feathers; central feathers darker, each feather having a light blue-grey centre and paler off-white edging. Undertail pigeon blue Wings: Primaries off-white, marked with light blue grey, more so on the outer edge and tip. Speculum dark pearl grey with white band on the secondaries. Greater coverts pale grey with white rims. Tertials light grey stipple with browner outer edge. Scapulars grey stipple; outer scapulars claret with white rims.

Cream/white underwing. Legs: Orange APRICOT SILVER FEMALE Head and Neck : Fawn to cream hood with faint graining on the crown. No eye stripes. Eyes: Brown. Bill: Light orange-brown with fa int brown saddle and light horn coloured bean. Back: White feathers with pale grey and fawn stippling. Breast and flanks: Apricot mottling on upper breast. Flanks and underbody mainly white. Tail: Feathers white with pale fawn centre. Wings: Primary feathers almost white. Speculum pearl grey with white band on the secondaries. Greater coverts pearl grey with white rims. Lightly mottled smaller coverts. Marginal coverts white. Cream/white underwing. Legs: Orange Disqualifications Male: Absence of neck ring. Incomplete neck ring. Pied markings on the head and neck. Dark stippling on flanks and belly. Female: Any indication of eye stripes. Buff ground colour to the body heavily pencilled with brown. Major Faults Male: White under the bill. Claret breast and flank colour extending low on to the body, or lacking in white fringing. Blue bill.

Female: Lack of cream or fawn ground colour to the head and upper neck. : Black, blue, lavender or chocolate. Bill: black Back: Black, laced blue, lavender or chocolate. Breast and flanks: Black, laced blue, lavender or chocolate with white bibs. Bib: As even as possible, ideally a tear drop shape extending from the lower neck to the upper breast. Tail: Black, laced blue, lavender or chocolate. Wings: Same as body colour except for two white outer primaries on each wing. Dusky orange shaded irregularly with greyish black. Darker than the drake Both: Small, uneven or large bib extending around the bill and on to the belly. Russet tinge in the plumage. Lack of white primaries. Minor faults MAGPIE (Black, Blue and Chocolate) FEMALE Head and Neck : White surmounted by black, blue or chocolate cap covering the whole of the crown to the top of the eyes. Eyes: dark grey or dark brown. Bill: preferably yellow, though spotted with grey-green on older ducks. Back: Solid black, blue or chocolate from shoulders to the tip of the tail. Breast and flanks: White.

Tail: Black, blue or chocolate. Wings: White primary and secondary feathers. Scapulars black, blue or chocolate, producing a heart-shaped mantle, which should be sharp, clearly defined and symmetrical in outline. Legs and webs dusky orange shaded irregularly with greyish black. Major Faults Both: Absence of cap or back markings. Asymmetry of markings. White feathers in the tail. Additional markings other than stated, especially on the face. Light edging on black plumage. Body more than 50% black, or more than 80% white. Head and Neck :White markings as drake. Coloured plumage golden brown, each feather with darker brown graining. This graining forms a darker band over the crown. Residual eye stripes as in Mallard. Eyes: Brown or blue. Bill: Orange-yellow with brown saddle and dark bean. Back: Brown or chestnut with darker pencilling (chevrons). Breast and flanks: Brown or chestnut with dark brown pencilling on each feather. White body markings as drake. Tail: White and dull dark buff, irregularly marked with brown; darker tail feathers in the centre than the outer edges.

Wings: Primaries, secondaries and tertials predominantly white. Scapulars and some of the wing coverts similar to the Rouen , giving a heart shape. Cream/white underwing . When Does a Male Mallard Get Its Colored Feathers? | Animals - mom.me When Does a Male Mallard Get Its Colored Feathers? Mallard ducks are adaptable to various habitats, from wetlands to residential ponds. Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images Mallard ducks are found all over the world except for Antarctica. They live in wetlands, grasslands and forests and are often found floating around in ponds and lakes. Telling apart adult male mallards from females is as easy as looking at their feathers. When they're young, though, males and females look alike. But you knew that. They're Yellow Then Brown Newly hatched male and female ducklings are similar in appearance; their yellow feathers are light and airy. These ducklings make their way to the water within a day of being born. At 3 weeks, the ducklings' feathers begin to grow, especially around their tails, and their yellow feathers fade to brown.

After two months of feeding and growing alongside their mothers, the male and female ducklings' feathers are fully brown, resembling their mothers' in appearance. Before winter arrives, the ducklings shed their feathers and grow new feathers that resemble the feathers of their respective adult genders. The following spring, during their second year of life, full adult plumage develops. Visual Gender Differences Become Plain Adult male and female mallard ducks vary in their feather colors. Males have brighter feathers than females. The males have white-ringed necks, metallic green heads and dark chestnut breast feathers. They also have curled white and black feathers on their tails. Females and non-breeding males resemble each other. Their feathers are brown with darker brown and white stripes. Some males and females have blue swatches of color on either side of their bodies, near their tail feathers. Feather Shedding Differs by Gender As mallard ducks age, their feathers become worn. Molting, or shedding of feathers, is how ducks replace their old feathers with new ones. Molting occurs twice per year, once in the fall and again in the spring. Around the time that females are laying eggs in the spring, males begin to shed their bright green feathers.

They are flightless during this time. In place of their bright plumage, males grow brown feathers similar to females'. In the fall, males molt their feathers again and regrow their signature green feathers in preparation for finding a mate for the next breeding season. Females molt in the fall in preparation for migrating, soon after they are finished raising ducklings. Females keep these same feathers until the following spring, when they shed again and regrow their brown feathers. Color Importances In many types of birds, including mallard ducks, it is common to find males with more colorful feathers than females. This is a result of sexual selection. The coloring and brightness of a male mallard's feathers indicates several things to potential female mates, including reproductive health, fitness and dominance. A healthy male mallard duck who has access to foods high in nutrients will typically have healthy, bright feathers, since his body can produce ample feather pigmentation. Good nutrition and bright feathers also show other males that a mallard is healthy enough to fight and protect his territory, which is a feature that appeals to females. Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images Author Amanda Williams has been writing since 2009 on various writing websites and blogging since 2003.

She enjoys writing about health, medicine, education and home and garden topics. Williams earned a Bachelor of Science in biology at East Stroudsburg University in May 2013. Williams is also a certified emergency medical technician. See More Animals Mallard Duck - Animal Facts and Information Mallard Duck Posted by BioExpedition | Apr 13, 2012 | Animals , Birds | Mallard Duck Facts and Information Anas platyrhynchos Introduction to Mallard Duck The Mallard Duck is closely related to domesticated ducks. There are over 60 subspecies that have been identified. The overall size of this duck can depend on the subspecies of parents, location, and food resources. They range in size from 20 to 26 inches long. They have a wingspan that ranges from 32 to 39 inches. Mallard Duck Description It is simple to tell the gender of a Mallard Duck based on the color of the top of the head. For males it is a very bold green or blue. For females it is a light shade of brown. The body can be various shades of brown with white and even some blue on the feathers.

They are very pretty and they are also very graceful when they are in flight. Class Least Concern Mallard Duck Distribution The Mallard Duck lives in subtropical and temperate regions. They are found around North Africa, New Zealand, Australia, North America, Asia, and Europe. They tend to live in the wetland areas where there is plenty of humidity. They do migrate for mating and to avoid cooler weather times of the year. It may surprise you to learn that some of them even live in the Arctic tundra though. Mallard Duck Behavior One of the fun things to watch with the Mallard Duck is them with their young. They may sometimes ride on the back of the mother as she is in the water. When they trail behind her they make a straight line and stick very close behind her. They are vocal birds and use those sounds to communicate with their young. They are very social and often rest in the same areas so that they have time to socialize as well as to relax. Mallard Duck – Anas platyrhynchos Mallard Duck Feeding The diet of the Mallard Duck consists of various types of plants. They also consume dragonflies, flies, crustaceans , and worms.

They are opportunistic when it comes to feeding. During certain times of the year they may find an abundance of insects. However, during other times of the year plants may be more readily available for them to dine upon. Mallard Duck Reproduction In October and November the Mallard Ducks will start to pair off. Once mating occurs though the male will leave. He will be looking for more females that he is able to mate with. The female will have the task of finding a safe place to create her nest. The female will lay from 8 to 13 eggs per clutch. She has to find a place for her nest that is very safe. When she goes to find food there is always the risk that some type of predator will take her eggs. In about 28 days the young chicks will be born. They will rely on their mother for food. It can be very hard for her to take care of the needs of a large clutch. If she has many chicks several of the smaller and weaker ones won’t get fed. This process allows her to be able to care for those with the best overall chances of survival. The young will be able to join their mother in the water for swimming after they hatch.

They may remain with the mother until it is time for her to mate again. Cross breeding across 63 different species is very common. This makes it difficult at times to pinpoint what particular subspecies one belongs to. However, DNA profiling has helped with such forms of identification when they are deemed to be necessary. Mallard Duck Facts and Information Mallard Duck | birdinginformation.com Mallard Duck Wood Duck Mallard Duck The Mallard Duck is the king of city parks. It is the ancestor of most domestic ducks except the Muscovy. It commonly interbreeds in these city parks, where all sorts of unusual combinations of colors and patterns can be found in the hybrids! They keep constant watch so a predator won’t surprise them. Each mallard in the flock will open his eyes at intervals when roosting in a dangerous place. Description The Mallard Duck is the most common of the North American Ducks. The male has a bright green head, white neck band, rusty breast, pale grey body and a violet blue speculum bordered in white. He has black central tail feathers which curl up (“Duck Tail”). His beak is yellow and his legs are orange.

The female Mallard is a mottled brown with a dark line through the eye. Like the male, she also has a violet blue speculum bordered in white. However, she has a white tail and her beak is orange mottled with brown. Her legs and feet are orange. Juvenile Mallards and eclipse males resemble the female. Range and Habitat The Mallard Duck is found in Alaska, Quebec and south to California, Texas, Virginia and northern Mexico. The mallard winters throughout the United States, south to Central America and the West Indies. They are often found with Black Ducks and Pintails in fresh marshes, irrigated fields, ponds, rivers, lakes and bays. Behavior The Mallard are surface feeding ducks and tip up to feed. They eat some mollusks, insects and small fish. They can also be found grazing on land. They are very agile flyers and can take off vertically. The female’s voice is a loud quack, quack, quack, while the male makes a low quack or a short raspy whistle. Breeding and Nesting The male begins courting the female in the fall and by mid-winter pairs have formed.

After they mate, the pairs migrate together to the where the female was hatched. The male has to keep a good eye out on her in case another male comes too close to his mate, especially before the eggs are laid. The male stays near to the female until she is well into incubation, and then leaves to join other males to molt. The nest is hidden in vegetation usually far from the water or sometimes in a tree. It is a down-filled hollow filled with 8-10 greenish buff eggs. Studies have shown that Mallard ducklings hear their mother’s voice before hatching and will follow her call after hatching. Ducklings are able to walk, swim, preen and feed themselves insects as soon as they hatch. The ducklings stay with the female for 7-8 weeks until they fledge. To keep together, the female communicates with soft quacks and the ducklings answer with a shill piping sound. That way she can tell if one is missing. Photo Gallery Mallard Duck Wood Duck, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology Typical Voice Size & Shape Wood Ducks have a unique shape among ducks—a boxy, crested head, a thin neck, and a long, broad tail.

In flight, they hold their head up high, sometimes bobbing it. Overall, their silhouette shows a skinny neck, long body, thick tail, and short wings. Color Pattern In good light, males have a glossy green head cut with white stripes, a chestnut breast and buffy sides. In low or harsh light, they'll look dark overall with paler sides. Females are gray-brown with white-speckled breast. In eclipse plumage (late summer), males lose their pale sides and bold stripes, but retain their bright eye and bill. Juveniles are very similar to females. Behavior Unlike most waterfowl, Wood Ducks perch and nest in trees and are comfortable flying through woods. Their broad tail and short, broad wings help make them maneuverable. When swimming, the head jerks back and forth much as a walking pigeon's does. You often see Wood Ducks in small groups (fewer than 20), keeping apart from other waterfowl. Listen for the female's call when these wary birds flush. Habitat Look for Wood Ducks in wooded swamps, marshes, streams, beaver ponds, and small lakes. They stick to wet areas with trees or extensive cattails.

As a cavity nester, Wood Ducks take readily to nest boxes. Muscovy Duck | birdinginformation.com Muscovy Duck Muscovy Duck Wild Muscovy ducks are native to Mexico, Central, and South America. They were domesticated by the natives long before the Europeans arrived in the new world. Muscovy ducks are the only ducks not genetically derived from the Mallard duck. They have a gamey aroma and are also called a “musk” duck. Description Muscovy ducks are large, heavy ducks with short legs and broad tails and wings. Wild Muscovy ducks are all black with white patches on the upper and under wing. Some of the ducks have a green and purple gloss. Muscovy ducks are selectively bred for their meat. They are bred to get lighter colors, and therefore to ultimately produce a lighter-colored meat for eating. Domesticated birds look both heavier and coarser than those found in the wild population. They can weigh up to 15 pounds or more! There are 10 distinctive and individual and variations of colors including: chocolate, lavender, pied-colored, and blue. Domestic Muscovies also come in three feather patterns: laced, rippled, and lacy.

They have a domed feathered crest on the top of their heads; the male also has a more pronounced knob on the top of his bill than the female. Females are smaller and duller in color. Both sexes have naked and warty looking skin on their faces. The color of the skin can be black and red, to all red. It is usually a brighter shade of red in domestic birds. Muscovy ducks also have various shades of eye color. If a duck has a light feather color, it will probably have a light eye color. You will even find pale blue eyes! Muscovy ducks are powerful birds. They have sharp talon-like claws on their feet for fighting, perching and climbing. Young ducklings are mostly yellow with buff and brown markings on their tails and wings. Some domestic ducklings have dark heads and blue eyes. The juvenile Muscovy is even duller than the female and slowly acquires its white wing patches in the first winter. Range and Habitat The Muscovy duck is a tropical bird; it is native to Mexico, Central and South America. Wild birds are also found in the lower Rio Grande River Valley, and in parts of southern Florida and Texas.

They prefer habitats with water and sheltered trees such as rivers, ponds, wooded swamps, and brackish coastal wetlands. Escaped birds can be found in many parks across America. Behavior Muscovy ducks are highly intelligent; they are also very aggressive. Wild ducks are shy and usually are silent. Domestic ducks are also rarely heard. They don’t actually quack unless they are in distress. The female gives a soft noise and thrilling coo, while the male gives a low breathy call; he also puffs and hisses in display. They are perching ducks, and will roost in small groups in trees. They can fly, but the males don’t usually get very far off the ground. In flight, they have a goose-like fight, with a straight neck. They can be seen flying at dawn and at dusk. Muscovy ducks will eat insects, roots, stems, leaves, seeds, fishes, reptiles, and small mammals. They do not swim as much as other ducks because their oil glands are not as well developed. This results their feathers fraying more. They are very intelligent and will wag their tails and raise their crests when talked to.

Breeding and Nesting Muscovy ducks are sexually mature at one year. Males will fight other males for social status and for the right to breed with a female. They can become very aggressive; they will head bob, raise their crests, bite, and pinch, flog, and literally jump on each other’s backs to attack. Pairs do not form stable relationships and forced sexual intercourse can occur. They will mate on land or water, and can breed up to three times a year. The female will only lay until her nest is full, about 8-16 eggs. Her nest is in a hole or in a hollow of a tree. She incubates her eggs for about 35 days, only leaving her nest for about an hour once a day to take care of her own needs. She chirps as she hatches her eggs to imprint her ducklings to her. The ducklings have trouble staying warm, so they stay close to their mother for several weeks. She is a super mom and will protect her brood from predators, even if it means her own death. The male will also stay close to the ducklings for several weeks; he will walk the ducklings while they hunt for food and provide his protection.

Photo Gallery Muskovy Duck

Question: What colour is the head of an adult male mallard?
Answer: GREEN